How To Dress Up Store-Bought Desserts the Easy Way
*This post may contain affiliate links. Originally posted on 4-5-2016 and updated 12-3-2024.
Let me ask a question first before we get started. Who loves to entertain but doesn’t have the time to whip up a homemade dessert or the budget to buy a custom one every time? Are your hands raised and are you bouncing up and down in your chair? Okay, good, so I’m not the only one.
I’ve got to be honest with you, this might be one of my all-time favorite projects! Not only does it make a simple store-bought cake beautiful, it also saves time and money. No need to spend time making a fancy dessert or buying an expensive custom cake for your next party or gathering.
Simply purchase one of your favorite grocery store desserts and zhuzh it up with some real flowers, fresh fruit, melted chocolate drizzle, or any number of ideas. The holiday season is always busy, so next time you host or need to bring a dessert to a special occasion, try this easy dessert idea.
Directions:
- Purchase a plain store-bought cake or dessert.
- Choose your decorations (lots of ideas below).
- Plate your cake or dessert on a pretty cake stand or platter.
- Decorate with your creative toppings and serve (or bring to your next potluck)!
Decoration Ideas:
- Fresh or edible flowers.
- Macaroons or other small cookies or candies.
- Fresh berries or fruit slices, like fresh strawberries or blueberries or lemon, lime or orange slices.
- Fresh herbs.
- Melted dark or white chocolate drizzle.
- Make an easy glaze to spread.
- Dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar.
- Use a piping bag to pipe store-bought frosting onto a sheet cake. Search Pinterest for easy designs!
Pro Tip:
I love using the small cakes from Trader Joe’s. They are the perfect size for a small gathering and never disappoint. These also make easy gift ideas for those loved ones on your list you just don’t know what to get. This is also a great idea for a gift to welcome someone to your neighborhood instead of boring old cookies!
Use these fun tips to dress up store-bought cookies, cakes, pies, or any dessert, with creative toppings for any occasion. Whether or not you disclose the store-bought part is totally up to you :) This will give your store-bought desserts a custom look for a fraction of the cost.
Would you serve or bring one of these cakes to your next gathering? I sure would! What they don’t know won’t hurt them right? And if you’re looking for creative ways to dress up your table check out my DIY centerpiece ideas.
Cheers!
Such creative ways to elevate store-bought desserts! These tips are perfect for impressing guests with minimal effort and maximum style.
When using flowers on food items be aware that florals purchased at the store may be treated with pesticides and that some flowers are not food safe. This is a beautiful idea though.
Thanks so much Kathleen! We did wrap the stems in plastic wrap :)
That’s really so clever of you! Adding creative toppings will also increase our appetite as beautiful cakes will never go wrong! Great tips here!
Thanks so much and yes it will! :)
Isn’t that totally cheating? Lol I haven’t found a store bought cake that comes close to the taste of homemade yet. They do look awfully cute though. I am of the mindset that it has to be WORTH the calories in taste though.
Cheating? No way, lol, I call it surviving in style! Totally agreed on being worth calories :) Happy Sunday!
So smart! That chocolate cake with the flowers is just gorgeous!
Thank you so much Alexis! xoxo
Beautiful…and so mart! I am hosting a bridal shower next weekend (you know, because there is not enough going on in my life right now), and you may have just saved me a few hundred buckaroos! But not calories–I’m drooling, so off to rummage through the kitchen now! ;)
Woohoo!! Here’s to saving money and eating ALL the goodies!
What a great idea! Pretty toppers:-)
Thanks sweet friend!!
De-lish! Definitely making me crave a big piece of cake with my coffee.
xo
Eddie
Thanks so much Eddie! They were fun to put together and yummy :)
Wow…they look amazing! Wish I had a slice of the chocolate cake with my morning coffee!
Thanks so much! That would be so good with my coffee right now too ::)
I totally would bring one like that! They look wonderful
Thanks so much Julia!